The Supreme Court and Precedent- Many recent decisions by the High Court have come under the spotlight of public scrutiny. Questions have been raised over the Court's adherence to the Doctrine of Precedent and the Separation of Powers doctrine. This paper will examine the theoretical and practical issues placed upon the High Court from the Precedent doctrine. The Doctrine of Precedent requires that 'like cases be decided alike'. If a case now before the court …showed first 75 words of 1563 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1563 total…the High Court' (1978) 9 Federal Law Review 483. Starke, J. 'Criteria according to which a final appellate court will overrule an earlier decision by it' (1990) 64 Australian Law Journal 753. Virtue, B. 'High Court is planning new rules' (1993) 28 (6) Australian Lawyer 18- 24; 26-28. Von Nessen, P. 'The Use of American Precedents by the High Court of Australia' (1992) 14 Adelaide Law Review 181. Wade, E. & Bradley, A. Constitutional Law. London: Longmans, 1966. Zines, L. The High Court and the Constitution. 3rd ed., Sydney: Butterworths, 1992.